ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Amnesty International on Friday urged Iraqi lawmakers to reject a controversial freedom of expression bill that is scheduled to be put to a vote on Saturday, warning it could be used to restrict protests and limit free speech.
“Lawmakers must vote against or propose amendments to any laws that would add to the arsenal of tools that the authorities are already using to restrict civic space or betray Iraq’s constitutional and international commitments to protect freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly,” said Razaw Salihy, Amnesty International’s Iraq researcher.
The bill would criminalize hate speech and insults to religious sects, ban nighttime protests, and restrict gatherings near hospitals, schools, and government buildings. The parliament’s human rights committee has called for amendments or removal of numerous sections.
Salihy warned that unofficial drafts reviewed by civil society groups suggest the law could lead to violations of the rights to free expression and peaceful assembly.
She also criticized the lack of transparency surrounding the bill, saying it is being “surreptitiously snuck through in a shroud of secrecy” and with “no public debate.”
The bill defines peaceful demonstration as a lawful public gathering to express opinions or demand rights, requiring prior approval from local authorities at least five days in advance. Denied requests for a demonstration can be appealed through the courts.
Salihy warned that activists and journalists in Iraq face increasing repression, with arrests, harassment, and intimidation severely undermining free speech.
